Buckingham Palace, Change the Guard & Crown Jewels Tour

Royal ceremony, then glittering jewels.

This 4-hour walking tour strings together Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, then moves you straight into Tower of London highlights that include the Crown Jewels. The payoff is big, and the logistics are handled for you: you get a first-class local guide, easy timed entry at the Tower, and a route that keeps you from wasting time guessing where to stand or what matters most.

I especially like two things: the chance to watch the Old Guard swap with the New Guard in a true military ceremony, and the fact that Tower of London entry plus the Crown Jewels Exhibition are included in the price. One consideration is that this is real walking, with cobblestones, hills, and stairs, so comfortable shoes and a moderate fitness level matter.

Quick take: key points that matter

• Small group cap (25 max), so you are not shouting over crowds all day
• Changing of the Guard included and free, with guard types that vary by day
• Timed Tower of London entry included, plus Crown Jewels and more
• Photo-friendly Westminster area stop, with Big Ben, Parliament, the Thames, and the London Eye nearby
• Finish inside the Tower of London, not at a random drop-off point
• Tickets are partial, Buckingham Palace is exterior-only for this tour

Buckingham Palace, Changing the Guard, Tower of London: What You’re Really Paying For

This tour is built for one reason, you want the big royal moments without spending your precious London time on planning and decision fatigue. At a glance, it is “just” Buckingham Palace, then the Tower, plus a few classic Westminster landmarks. In practice, the value comes from how the day is structured: you get guided interpretation, the Changing of the Guard moment is built in, and the Tower of London portion uses timed entry so you are not stuck trying to beat the lines on your own.

The other quiet value is pacing. In about four hours, you cover a tight loop of royal London, with enough stops that you get context for what you are seeing. Guides like Mike and Pamela have a pattern of helping you find good angles for the ceremony and explaining what you are looking at instead of treating it as a postcard stop.

Now the fine print you should respect: you will walk. The tour notes mention uneven surfaces, cobblestones, hills, inclines, declines, and stairs. That is not a reason to skip it, it is a reason to pack for it.

Buckingham Palace Exterior Stop: Best Use of Your 30 Minutes

The Buckingham Palace stop is a guided exterior visit, about 30 minutes, with admission ticket not included for this part. Translation: you are not doing an inside museum-style experience here. Instead, your guide sets the stage so you understand why the palace matters beyond its postcard look.

Here is what this time slot is good for:

• Getting oriented quickly so the ceremony later feels less random
• Learning what this royal residence represents, from modern official use to the way national celebrations play out here
• Spotting the palace features you will hear about when the guide talks history and tradition

What you can do right now, before the Changing of the Guard: look up and around. Buckingham’s exterior details can be easy to miss if you are staring straight ahead at the gates. Use your guide’s cues, and you will usually end up noticing the elements that tie into the ceremony.

The drawback of an exterior-only visit is obvious: if you want palace interior rooms, this tour does not promise that. The good news is that the day is designed to spend time where the payoff is immediate, the ceremony and the Tower.

The Changing of the Guard: Old Guard Meets New Guard

This is the main event and it is included and free. You get roughly 20 minutes for the ceremony, and your guide helps you experience it in the right spot and at the right moment.

A key detail you should know is that the Guard Mounting can vary depending on the day. The tour information says you may see the Queen’s Foot Guards or the Household Cavalry, and for fully guided tours on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday you will witness the Household Cavalry.

Why that matters for you: the whole ceremony feels different depending on which unit is performing. If you care about seeing the exact type, check the day you are booking. If you just want the classic spectacle, you are still in the right place, because the structure of the swap, Old Guard trading places with New Guard, is the core of what makes this moment memorable.

A practical tip: dress for weather. The tour runs in all weather, and the notes are clear that you should plan for changing conditions. London can go from dry to windy to sudden showers fast. If you are packed for comfort, you will enjoy the ceremony more and spend less time trying to “tough it out.”

Westminster Area Stop: Big Ben, Parliament, Thames, London Eye Photo Stops

The Westminster portion lasts about 1 hour 20 minutes and is listed as admission ticket free. The focus here is guided sight-seeing around the Westminster icons, with expert insights and photo stops.

From what you are told you’ll see, this area includes:

• Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (viewed from outside)
• The Thames River viewpoints
• The London Eye area
• Westminster Palace as the meeting place for the House of Commons and the House of Lords

Even if you have seen photos of this zone a dozen times, a guide changes how you experience it. Instead of “there’s the clock tower,” you start connecting the landmarks into one political and civic story. It is also helpful that the day includes photo opportunities. Westminster can be brutally crowded, so having a guide who knows when to pause and where to stand makes your pictures come out better.

Logistics matter here too. Your tour then transitions toward the Tower of London, and the tour information notes that you need an Oyster Card, Travel Card, or contactless card for transport by Tube from Big Ben to Tower London.

If you do not want to deal with payment or getting flustered mid-walk, top up your card before you leave your hotel. It makes the transfer stress-free.

Tower of London: Timed Entry, Crown Jewels, White Tower, and Armory

This is the part that most strongly justifies the price.

The Tower of London stop is about 1 hour 30 minutes, and Tower entry is included. Specifically, it includes access to:

• The 11th-century Tower of London
• Crown Jewels Exhibition
• White Tower and Armory
• Yeomen Warders, with a chance to see them and take a photo
• Raven House

This is one of those attractions where “included” is not a tiny detail. The Crown Jewels in particular can be a time sink if you are trying to manage entry on your own during peak hours. Timed entry access is exactly what you want if you have a short stay and you do not want the day to collapse under ticket lines.

What makes the Tower so worth it is the mix of power and spectacle. You are looking at a former fortification that also functioned as a prison and execution site, and it sits right next to the world-famous regalia display. That contrast gives you a fuller sense of what monarchy meant on the ground, not just in pageantry.

Also, the included Yeomen Warders photo moment is a smart add-on. These are characters people expect to see, but it can be hard to coordinate yourself when crowds surge. Having that built into the plan means you do not spend your time hunting.

White Tower Gift Shop Stop: How to Finish Without Rushing

After the Tower highlights, there is a short shop stop connected to the White Tower area, about 20 minutes. It is not the main draw, but it is a practical way to end the day: you get a final pocket of time to grab souvenirs without having to walk a long distance after you are done sightseeing.

A small strategy that helps: buy the practical items you will actually use first. Then, if you still want a few extras, go back for them. When you only have 20 minutes, you want to avoid wandering with indecision.

Your tour finishes inside the Tower of London, which is convenient. It means you are not immediately hit with “now where do I go?” the moment you reach the end of the guided portion.

Price and Value: Is $176.89 Worth It?

At $176.89 per person for about four hours, the sticker price can look steep if you compare it to free things you can do in London. But value here is not just “what sights are named,” it is what is handled for you.

You are paying for:

• A guided Changing of the Guard experience at Buckingham Palace
• A guide for the Westminster icons and photo stops
• Included Tower of London entry, including the Crown Jewels Exhibition, White Tower, and Armory
• Timed entry access that helps you keep the schedule

If you were to price this out on your own, the Tower of London portion would likely be the hardest part to match in convenience because of the ticket timing. This tour bundles that into one plan with a guide coordinating the day. That is where you save effort and, often, time.

Another value point is the group size cap of 25 travelers. In a packed city, that kind of cap helps you stay with the guide and not lose the plot when the crowd thickens.

Is it expensive? Compared to walking around for free, yes. Compared to getting the ceremony plus a fully managed Tower visit with timed entry, it is competitive.

Who Should Book This Royal Tour (and Who Might Not)

This tour fits you well if:

• You want the classic Buckingham Palace ceremony and the Crown Jewels in one half day
• You like having a guide explain what you are seeing so you are not just collecting landmarks
• You are okay with moderate walking over cobbles, hills, and stairs
• You want a structured plan without spending time creating one

It may not fit as well if:

• You have limited mobility. The tour is not recommended for travelers with limited mobility.
• You dislike walking and standing for ceremonies. The route includes uneven surfaces and some stair climbing.
• You are hoping for Buckingham Palace interior access. This tour is exterior guided for the palace stop, and Buckingham Palace admission is not included.

There is also a timing angle. The tour often gets booked about 77 days in advance on average. If you have fixed travel dates, it is smart to book early rather than waiting for last-minute pricing.

The Logistics That Make or Break Your Day

A few practical bits can make your experience smoother.

First, wear comfortable shoes. The tour directly warns you about cobblestones and uneven surfaces, plus hills, inclines, declines, and stairs. Do not show up in “I can do ten thousand steps” shoes if they have no grip. Your feet will tell you the truth.

Second, bring a water bottle if you can. Walking plus waiting in a ceremony spot can dry you out faster than you expect.

Third, handle your transit payment before you start. You will need an Oyster Card, Travel Card, or contactless card for Tube transport from the Big Ben area to the Tower of London.

Finally, check your day for the Changing of the Guard unit if that detail matters to you. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday point to the Household Cavalry for fully guided tours, while other days can bring the Queen’s Foot Guards.

Should You Book This Tour?

Book it if you want a focused royal day with less planning stress, and especially if you care about getting into the Tower of London and seeing the Crown Jewels as part of a guided route. The included Tower entry and timed access are the strongest reasons to choose this format.

Consider skipping or switching tours if you want lots of indoor palace time, or if walking over cobblestones and stairs is a problem for you. Also, if you know you are the type who hates any possibility of missing a planned segment, arrive early and treat the meeting point like an appointment, not a casual suggestion.

If you do book, pack for walking, bring your Tube payment option, and pay attention to your guide’s cues at both Buckingham and the Tower. When you do, this half day turns into far more than a list of famous places.

FAQ

How long is the Buckingham Palace, Change the Guard & Crown Jewels Tour?

The tour lasts about 4 hours.

Is entry to the Tower of London included?

Yes. The Tower stop includes entry to the 11th century Tower of London, the Crown Jewels Exhibition, and the White Tower and Armory.

Are Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Houses of Parliament tickets included?

No. The tour notes list admission tickets for Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Houses of Parliament as not included.

Do I need tickets to see the Changing of the Guard?

No. The Changing of the Guard stop is listed as free.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

The tour starts at the Constance Fund fountain of Diana, London SW1A 1RN. It ends inside the Tower of London at London EC3N 4AB.

What do I need for transport from the Big Ben area to the Tower of London?

You need an Oyster Card, Travel Card, or contactless card for Tube transport from Big Ben to Tower London.

Is this tour suitable for limited mobility?

It is not recommended for travelers with limited mobility. The tour involves walking on uneven surfaces, cobblestones, hills, inclines, declines, and stairs.